Current Affairs
27th March 2024
NATIONAL AFFAIRS
1) CBI and Europol sign Working Arrangement for Cooperative Relations
A working arrangement was signed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) to strengthen cooperation between the Europol and the Republic of India’s law enforcement agencies in the fight against serious crime and terrorism.
Signatories:
Senior CBI and Europol officials were present as Catherine De Bolle, Executive Director of Europol, and Praveen Sood, Director of the CBI, virtually signed the working arrangement in New Delhi and The Hague at the same time.
Significance of Working Arrangement
- In order to take advantage of their different missions and approaches, this arrangement encourages direct collaboration between the CBI and Europol.
- It creates explicit channels for coordination, cooperation, and communication between the various law enforcement organizations.
- It also makes collaboration possible between all Indian law enforcement agencies and the 27 European nations that Europol represents, as well as between third nations and Europol-affiliated organizations.
- With 26 comprehensive articles outlining the protocols for wide collaboration in over 30 different criminal categories, this Working Arrangement is comprehensive.
- It encompasses not only the sharing of information but also the sharing of specialized knowledge, situation reports in general, strategic analysis findings, involvement in training exercises, and offering guidance and assistance in specific criminal investigations.
Note:
In March 2024, the CBI and the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), based in Mauritius, inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening their overall collaboration in the fight against corruption, money laundering, and associated offenses.
Additional info
- The CBI serves as the National Central Bureau for India’s participation in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), arranging support for all Indian law enforcement agencies through Interpol channels.
- It is a part of the Global Operational Network of Law Enforcement Authorities Against Corruption (GlobE Network).
- While Europol assists EU member states in the fight against cybercrime, serious international and organized crime, and terrorism, it lacks the authority to make arrests or launch independent investigations.
About Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
- Director – Praveen Sood
- Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi.
- Establishment – 1963
About Europol
- Executive Director – Catherine De Bolle
- Headquarters – The Hague, The Netherlands.
- Establishment – 1999
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2) Indian Navy’s Maritime Security Operations Reach 100-Day Milestone Under ‘Op Sankalp‘
The Indian Navy concluded “Operation Sankalp,” a 100-day maritime security exercise, on March 23, 2024. The operation was initiated on December 14, 2023.
The Indian Navy was the First Responder and Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) during Operation Sankalp, and it played a significant role in the operation.
About Operation Sankalp:
- As part of Operation Sankalp, Special Forces, aircraft, and naval vessels were instrumental in defending the maritime community against a range of unconventional threats that were present in the IOR.
- The Indian Navy carried out security operations in three regions: the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden and its surrounding waters, and off the east coast of Somalia.
- To counter threats, the Indian Navy sent 5000 personnel to sea, flew maritime surveillance aircraft for 900 hours, and deployed over 450 ship days (with over 21 ships).
Highlights:
- The Indian Navy escorted over 15 lakh tons of commodities, including fertilizers, crude oil, and finished goods, and saved over 110 lives during the operation, including 45 Indian Seafarers.
- The Indian Navy conducted 1000 boarding operations and found more than 3000 kg of drugs.
- The Indian Navy’s Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, Haryana, has served as the main hub for facilitating information exchange in the IOR since 2023.
Points to note:
- The Indian Navy expanded the reach of Operation Sankalp and reoriented it to address the Israel-Hamas conflict’s maritime manifestation.
- The naval action on December 14, 2023, when Somali pirates hijacked the merchant vessel (MV) Ruen, flying the Malta flag.
- The Indian Naval Ship Kolkata (INS) returned to Mumbai, Maharashtra, on March 23, 2024, carrying 35 pirates who had turned themselves in. This was a component of Sankalp Operation.
About Indian Navy
- Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) – Admiral R Hari Kumar
- Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
- Motto – Sham no Varunah
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3) TRAI Amends MNP Regulations to Curb Fraudulent SIM Swap Activities
The Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability (MNP) (ninth amendment) Regulations 2024 were released on March 14, 2024, by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The regulations aim to prevent the porting of mobile numbers through fraudulent Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) swapping or replacement by unscrupulous individuals.
The rules will be implemented on July 1st, 2024.
Amendment:
With the authority granted by sub-section (1) of section 36, read with sub-clauses (i), (iii), and (v) of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11, of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997, TRAI has amended the Telecommunication MNP Regulations 2009.
Note: The legal foundation for MNP in India was established by the MNR Regulations of 2009.
Key Features:
- The amendment forbids telecom operators from providing a “Unique Porting Code (UPC)”, which is the initial step in utilizing MNP to switch service providers.
- The amendment states that a mobile number linked to a SIM card swap or replacement cannot be ported to another telecom provider for a period of seven days.
If the UPC request was submitted prior to the seven-day period ending, the UPC will not be assigned.
- This is only applicable to users who have requested a replacement SIM card after losing their original one. Porting is unrestricted for users who are upgrading their SIM card.
Note: As a result of growing concerns about fraudulent and spam calls, TRAI has implemented several anti-spam measures, of which this is one.
What is MNP?
- In November 2010, the MNP facility was introduced on a trial basis in the Haryana telecom circle.
- In July 2015, the complete MNP went into effect, allowing users to keep their number across all Indian telecom circles.
- Users can move between different network providers without resetting their phone number thanks to SIM porting or MNP.
About Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):
TRAI is a statutory body that regulates the telecommunications sector in India.
- Chairman – Anil Kumar Lahoti
- Headquarters – New Delhi, Delhi
- Establishment – 1997
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4) 4th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Startup Forum held in New Delhi
On March 19, 2024, in New Delhi, Delhi, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Startup Forum held its fourth edition.
The initiative’s goals were to foster new business partnerships among SCO Member States, create an environment that is supportive of innovation, promote the creation of jobs, and motivate young people to come up with creative solutions.
The workshop titled “Establishing a Seed Fund: A Strategic Approach to Fostering Innovation and Entrepreneurship” was led by Startup India and attended by representatives from the member countries.
India will host the second meeting of the Special Working Group (SWG) in November 2024 and SCO Startup Forum 5.0 in January 2025.
Note: Founded in Shanghai, China, on June 15, 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental organization. Nine nations are members of it, India included.
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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
5) 2024 Hurun Global Rich List: Mukesh Ambani becomes world’s 10th Richest man; Mumbai Becomes Asia’s Billionaire Capital
With a total net worth of USD 115 billion, Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), is the 10th richest person in the world according to the “2024 Hurun Global Rich List.”
With a total net worth of USD 231 billion, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla Motors, topped the list for the third time. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, came in second with USD 185 billion, and Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, came in third with USD 175 billion.
Mumbai, Maharashtra, surpasses Beijing, China, to become Asia’s capital of billionaires. Mumbai is home to 91 billionaires in India, and Beijing is home to 91 billionaires in China.
About Hurun Report Inc. (Hurun Report):
It is a leading research, luxury publishing and events group established in 1998 in London (U.K.). Hurun India was launched in 2012.
- MD & Chief Researcher– Anas Rahman Junaid
- Headquarters (Hurun India)– Mumbai, Maharashtra
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6) UNCTAD’s Global Trade Update (March 2024): Global Trade Set to Rebound in 2024
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that global trade is expected to increase in 2024 after contracting by 3% in 2023 to USD 1 trillion, down from the record high of USD 32 trillion in 2022. This information is based on the Global Trade Update (March 2024).
Less demand in developed economies and weakened trade between East Asia and Latin America were the main causes of the downturn.
While goods trade decreased by 5% (USD 1.3 trillion) in comparison to 2022, the services sector showed resilience, growing by 8% (USD 500 billion) in 2022.
Regional Dynamics:
- Developing countries, especially in Africa, East Asia, and South Asian regions, witnessed growth in trade during the 4th quarter of 2023.
- Notable exceptions in merchandise trade include China (+5% imports) and India (+5% exports), while the European Union (EU) and Russia experienced declines.
Trade performance:
- Trade performance during 2023 diverged between developing and developed countries, with the developing countries experiencing a decline of approximately 4% and the developed countries around 6%.
- South-South trade, or trade between developing economies, saw a decline of about 7%.
- Developing countries and South-South trade resume growth in the last quarter of 2023, contrasting with stable trade in developed countries.
Geopolitical Influences:
- Geopolitical tensions reshape bilateral trade flows, with shifts in trade dependence observed, notably between Russia, China, and the EU.
- South-South trade resumes growth while trade interdependence between China and the United States of America (US) decreases.
- Regional trade between African economies sees a 6% increase in 2023, while intra-regional trade in East Asia (-9%) and Latin America (-5%) lags behind the global average.
Sectoral Analysis:
- Industries like pharmaceuticals, and transportation equipment, show resilience, while apparel and textiles face declines.
- Motor vehicle sectors grew by 14%, driven by electric vehicle (EV) demand.
- Tourism and travel-related services exhibit a robust rebound, increasing by nearly 40% in 2023.
About UNCTAD Global Trade Update:
- The UNCTAD publishes a periodic update providing fundamental data and analysis of global trade.
- It covers trade flows for goods and services, trade trends regionally and globally, the key factors affecting trade, and the prospects for trade in the coming quarters.
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BANKING & FINANCE
7) IRDAI Approved 8 Regulations for Insurance Products, Policyholders
At its 125th Authority meeting, which took place on March 19, 2024, at the IRDAI headquarters in Hyderabad, Telangana, the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) approved eight consolidated regulations that were based on principles.
In order to get closer to the objective of offering insurance to everyone by 2047, they seek to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Indian insurance sector.
The 8 regulations are:
- IRDAI (Rural, Social Sector and Motor Third Party Obligations) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Bima Sugam – Insurance Electronic Marketplace) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Registration, Capital Structure, Transfer of Shares and Amalgamation of Insurers) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Corporate Governance for Insurers) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Insurance Products) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Registration and Operations of Foreign Reinsurers Branches & Lloyd’s India) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Actuarial, Finance and Investment Functions of Insurers) Regulations, 2024
- IRDAI (Protection of Policyholders’ Interests and Allied Matters of Insurers) Regulations, 2024
About Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI):
IRDAI It was constituted in 1999 and was incorporated as a statutory body in April, 2000.
- Chairperson – Debasish Panda
- Headquarters – Hyderabad, Telangana
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8) SEBI directs AMFI to stop inflows into Overseas Schemes of MFs from April 1
The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) has received directives from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to cease investments in foreign exchange traded funds (ETFs) as of April 1. This decision is being made as the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) current $1 billion cap is almost reaching its limit.
Key Points:
- SEBI’s January 2022 directive barred MFs from fresh subscriptions in overseas stocks. Despite recent market downturns, SEBI relaxed restrictions with a USD 7 billion industry cap.
- 13 international MF schemes manage Rs 7,743 crore in passive funds, with many others investing in international ETFs.
- India’s MF industry offers two overseas investment avenues: direct and through foreign-managed ETFs.
- AMFI and fund houses seek raised limits for investor diversification and capitalizing on developed market rallies.
- The current limit was set in 2007-08 and hasn’t been revised despite India’s doubled forex reserves.
- SEBI mandates valuing overseas investment utilization based on acquisition cost, not current market valuation.
- Mutual funds accept investments in overseas schemes based on available headroom within fund house caps.
About Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI):
- Chairperson– Madhabi Puri Buch
- Headquarters– Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Establishment– SEBI was constituted as a non-statutory body on April 12, 1988, and it was established as a statutory body in 1992.
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9) Aditya Birla Housing Finance Launches Digital Lending Platform “ABHFL-Finverse”
For its home loan clients, Aditya Birla Housing Finance Limited (ABHFL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, has introduced “ABHFL-Finverse,” a unified digital lending platform.
From prospecting to disbursement, the entire lending process would be digitalized through the platform.
Customers will benefit from a smooth experience, rapid processing of loan applications, real-time updates, and increased loan status transparency.
Together with Tata Consultancy Services, the ABHFL-Finverse platform was co-created (TCS).
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APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS
10) Neeraj Chopra Appointed as the Brand Ambassador for Eveready Industries
Neeraj Chopra, the gold medallist from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has been named as Eveready Industries India Limited’s (EIIL) brand ambassador.
Eveready’s advertisements, such as “Give Me Red,” which Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar previously supported, will be featured by Neeraj Chopra.
Eveready views this partnership as a significant turning point in its history as it prepares to launch the new Ultima Alkaline battery line, which will further demonstrate its dedication to quality and innovation.
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ACQUISITIONS & MERGERS
11) Tata Sons sold a 0.6% stake in TCS for over Rs 9,300 crore
In a block transaction valued at more than Rs 9,300 crore, Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, sold about 2.02 crore shares (0.65% equity) in Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).
For the sale, the average share price was Rs 4,043 per share.
With effect from March 26, 2024, Tata Sons owns 71.9% of TCS.
Points to Note:
- As of March 20, 2023, Tata Sons had revenue of Rs 35,058.47 crore for the fiscal year 2022–2023 and net debt of Rs 20,642.47 crore.
- In order to raise money to settle debt and stabilize balance sheets, holding companies and promoter entities usually sell their holdings in group companies.
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SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
12) ISRO’s POEM-3 Achieves Zero Debris Re-entry in Orbit
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle Orbital Experimental Module-3 (POEM-3) re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere with no debris in orbit, according to an announcement made by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
On March 21, 2024, the milestone was reached, and the PSLV C58/XPoSat mission essentially left no debris in orbit.
About PSLV Orbital Experimental Module-3(POEM-3):
- It is ISRO’s unique cost effective space platform which used the spent PS4 stage of the PSLV-C58 launch vehicle and launched XPoSat (X-Ray Polarimeter Satellite) on 1st January, 2024.
POEM-3 mission was conceptualized by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
- On completion of Primary mission, the terminal stage of PSLV was transformed into a 3-axis stabilized platform, POEM-3.
- After deploying the satellite into targeted orbit at 650 km, the vehicle was lowered to 350 km circular orbit to minimize the time of orbit decay after the completion of experiment and also expedite re-entry process.
- It is configured with a total 9 different experimental payloads to conduct scientific experiments on the newly developed indigenous systems.
- From the total payloads, 6 payloads were delivered by NGEs (Non-Government Entities) through IN-Space(Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre).
- The orbital altitude of upper stage continued to decay under the influence of natural forces.
- For smooth conduct of experiments on POEM-3 platform, body rates were stabilized to less than 0.5 degree/second throughout.
- Innovative schemes like: controlled dumping of residual propellant were introduced to minimize disturbances due to passivation.
- The payload operations were carried out by the spacecraft operations team from the mission operations complex (MOX) at ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC).
ISRO’s System for Safe and Sustainable Spacecraft Operations Management (IS4OM) has monitored and analyzed the orbital decay.
Significance of POEM-3 mission:
- It provides an extremely economical platform for conducting brief space-borne experiments.
- A number of startups, academic institutions, and NGEs (non-governmental entities) have successfully used POEM-3 to carry out space experiments, including star tracking, satellite dispensers, and electric thrusters.
Key Elements of POEM:
It included some new features such as:
- Complete avionics set up in a chain
- Standard interfaces for electric power, telemetry, and telecommand; Mission Management Computer; and other industrial-grade components found in avionics packages.
- New in-orbit navigation algorithms that employ a magnetometer, sun sensor, and rate-gyro.
About Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO):
- Chairman – Sreedhara Panicker Somanath
- Headquarter – Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Established – 1969
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13) IAU Approves to Name Chandrayaan-3’s Landing Site as ‘Statio Shiv Shakti’
The Vikram lander landing site on Chandrayaan-3 has been given the name Statio Shiv Shakti by the Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
The date of approval was March 19, 2024.
Indian mythology is the source of the term Shiv Shakti, which describes the duality of nature—the masculine (Shiva) and feminine (Shakti).
Note: All topographic nomenclature on the solar system’s planetary bodies is developed and coordinated by the WGPSN of the IAU.
Background:
- The third mission in the Chandrayaan program, the Vikram lander of Chandrayaan-3, made a successful soft landing close to the moon’s south pole on August 23, 2023.
ii. India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, declared that August 23rd would be recognized as National Space Day each year and that the landing site would be called “Shiva Shakti.”
Additional info: The crash site of Chandrayaan-2 on the lunar surface was named ‘Tiranga Point’.
For Chandrayaan-3, ISRO receives Aviation Week’s 2023–2024 Laureate Award.
The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has been recognized for its accomplishments with Chandrayaan-3 with the Aviation Week Network’s 2023–2024 Laureates Award in the Space category.
The National Building Museum hosted the 66th Laureate Awards (2023–2024) ceremony on March 14, 2024. Ambassador Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Chief of Mission, Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, USA, accepted the award on behalf of ISRO.
Note: Aviation Week Network, based in New York, USA, offers services and multimedia information to the international aviation, aerospace, and defense industries.
About the Laureate Award:
- The Laureate Awards honor notable accomplishments made by both individuals and groups in the aviation sector.
- The award is given out in six main categories: Lifetime Achievement Award, Commercial, Defense, MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul), Business Aviation, and Space.
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SPORTS
14) Table Tennis: India’s Sreeja Akula Wins Women’s Singles Title at WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024
Sreeja Akula, an Indian from Telangana, defeated Sarah De Nutte, a Luxembourger, in the championship match to win the women’s singles title at the World Table Tennis (WTT) Feeder Beirut II 2024.
WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 took place at the Al Kawthar Secondary School in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 22–24, 2024.
Indian Winners:
- In the all-Indian final, Manush Utpalbhai Shah of Gujarat and Manav Vikash Thakkar of Gujarat defeated Mudit Dani of Maharashtra and Akash Pal of West Bengal to win the men’s doubles championship.
- In the finals, Akash Pal and Poymantee Baisya of West Bengal defeated Manika Batra of Delhi and Sathiyan Gnanasekaran of Tamil Nadu to win the mixed doubles title. It is their maiden WTT victory.
Other Winners:
- Hong Kong Chinese duo Doo Hoi Kem and Zhu Chengzhu defeated Indian duo Sreeja Akula and Diya Chitale (Maharashtra) in the finals to win the women’s doubles championship.
- Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Chih-yuan defeated Kazakhstan’s Kirill Gerassimenko in the championship match to win the men’s singles title.
Prize Money: The total prize money of the event was USD 22,500.
Winners & Runners of WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024:
|
Event |
Winners |
Runners-up |
| Men’s Singles |
Chuang Chih-yuan |
Kirill Gerassimenko(Kazakhstan) |
| Women’s Singles |
Sreeja Akula (India) |
Sarah De Nutte (Luxembourg) |
| Men’s Doubles |
Manush Utpalbhai Shah and Manav Thakkar (India) |
Mudit Dani and Akash Pal (India) |
| Women’s Doubles |
Doo Hoi Kem and Zhu Chengzhu |
Sreeja Akula and Diya Chitale |
| Mixed Doubles |
Akash Pal and Poymantee Baishya (India) |
Sathiyan Gnanasekaran and Manika Batra (India) |
Note: Held in Beirut, Lebanon, WTT Feeder Beirut II 2024 was the second of two WTT Feeder Series events. The WTT Feeder Beirut 2024 took place from March 19th to March 21st, 2024, was another.
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IMPORTANT DAYS
15) World Tuberculosis Day 2024 – March 24
Every year on March 24, people around the world observe World Tuberculosis Day to increase public awareness of the serious health, social, and economic effects of tuberculosis (TB) and to bolster efforts to put an end to the global pandemic.
“Yes! We can end TB” is the theme for World Tuberculosis Day in 2024, carrying over from the previous year’s theme.
Background:
- The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IUATLD) proposed marking March 24 as World TB Day in 1982, the centennial of Dr. Koch’s discovery of tubercle bacillus.
The International Union Against Tuberculosis (IUAT) was the former name of IUATLD. - Under the slogan “Defeat TB: Now and Forever,” the IUATLD and the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a year-long centennial campaign that included this.
- In 1983, the first World TB Day was formally observed.
- In Den Haag, Netherlands, in 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) organized the inaugural World TB Day planning meeting.
- WHO, KNCV, the IUATLD, and other interested parties came together in 1996 to organize a variety of World TB Day events.
About World Health Organisation (WHO):
- Director General– Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
- Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
- Established on– 7 April 1948
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16) International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims 2024 – March 24
Every year on March 24, people around the world observe the United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims, also known as Right to Truth Day. This day honors the memory of human rights activist Monsignor Ñscar Arnulfo Romero, who was killed on March 24, 1980.
He was speaking out against abuses of the most defenseless people’s human rights in El Salvador.
Background:
- On December 21, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) passed resolution A/RES/65/196, designating March 24 as the International Day for the Right to the Truth about Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims each year.
- On March 24, 2011, the day was celebrated for the first time.
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17) International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024 – March 25
Every year on March 25, people around the world observe the United Nations (UN) International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade as a way to honor and remember those who lost their lives as a result of the transatlantic slave trade.
Raising awareness of the perils of racism and prejudice is another goal of This Day.
Under the theme “Creating Global Freedom: Countering Racism with Justice in Societies and Among Nations,” the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade 2024 was observed.
Background:
- The UN General Assembly (UNGA) established the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade on December 17, 2007, after passing resolution A/RES/62/122.
- The establishment of an educational outreach program was also mandated by the resolution titled “Permanent memorial to and remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade.”
- On March 25, 2008, the world observed its first-ever International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
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18) International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members 2024 – March 25
Every year on March 25, the United Nations (UN) observes the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members to honor the bravery and commitment of UN employees as well as medical and humanitarian workers worldwide.
The Day acknowledges the dangers that UN employees face and serves as a call to action for the protection of peacekeepers and UN staff.
Origin: The Day honors the anniversary of British journalist Alec Collett’s kidnapping while he was working for the UN and photographing refugee camps in Lebanon. For Palestine Refugees in the Near East, he was employed by UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).
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